Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | January 22, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 5 B R I E F S The Pearl-Elm garage must be fixed The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce in a strongly-worded letter urged the city to undertake an extensive renovation of the Pearl-Elm Municipal Parking Garage in downtown, saying employees can't rely on basic services like elevators to work. City officials said the project, estimated to cost around $16 million, is in the pre-qualification stage and will be done in phases. When polled online, WBJ readers overwhelming said the city need to repair the garage now. F L A S H P O L L Worcester left off Amazon's HQ2 short list Amazon in January announced 20 destinations it is considering for its sec- ond headquarters, and Worcester's offer of $500 million in tax breaks wasn't enough to entice the e-commerce giant. In its official 60-page bid, the city offered the company 98 acres made up of three mostly-abutting parcels off of Route 20. The proposal boasted of Worcester's progress and revitalization and highlighted the proximity to 135 colleges, universities and institutes. Worcester -- which spent about $11,000 on the bid package -- was one of 238 nationwide bids for HQ2, a planned 8-million-square-foot campus requiring a $5-billion capital investment from the company. Amazon is predict- ing more than 50,000 new jobs at HQ2. The only New England area included in Amazon's list was Boston, which was primarily offering the 161-acre Suffolk Downs site. The other short-list sites are Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Miami; Montgomery County, Md.; Nashville; Newark, N.J.; New York City, N.Y.; Northern Virginia; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh, N.C.; Toronto, Canada; and Washington D.C. Continued on next page Regional Real Estate? Our World of Knowledge Can Bridge the Gap Between a Great Idea and a Grand Opening. Knowing the ins and outs of commercial real estate requires not only know-how but also knowing who. Our knowledge of local and regional markets allows us to assist you with the how and the why, the when and where, always with an eye on the time, regardless of the size of your project. Because when you have all of the right information, you're assured of making an enlightened decision. Call Mark Donahue 508.459.8029 or Todd Brodeur 508.459.8038. Real Knowledge in Real Estate COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE | SPECIAL PERMITS SITE PLAN APPROVAL | MEPA FletcherTilton.com WO RC E ST E R | F R A M I N G H A M | C A P E CO D Burns Bridge in Shrewsbury, MA. Photo by Jerry Callaghan As downtown activity grows, should Worcester prioritize fixing its municipally owned parking garages? Yes. The garage's state of disrepair is an impediment to economic development. 72% "The Pearl-Elm garage is conveniently located, however, it is totally in disrepair. I fear for my safety every day entering and exiting. The city needs to make the renovations." COMMENTS: City Manager Ed Augustus lead the effort to bring HQ2 to Worcester. Yes. But the businesses who use the garage frequently should cover a portion of the costs. "Despite the atrocious condition of the garage, the monthly rate for busi- nesses has increased!" "The Pearl-Elm garage is a disgrace." 6% No. The city should spend its limited funds on other economic development efforts like business tax breaks and road repair. 6% 15% No. The garages aren't pretty but they get the job done.

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